Newspaper conveyor

ABSTRACT

A newspaper conveyor has an endless conveyor chain (1) running along a conveyor (3) with a plurality of newspaper grips (7) in rows. Their movable clamp (11) may be set in two opening positions, a first one in which the movable clamp (11) is held open against the closing force of a spring (20) by a cam control curve (28) and a second in which the movable clamp (11) is self-lockingly held open by friction by the leaf spring (20).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a newspaper conveyor.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Newspaper conveyors of this kind serve speedy transport of newspapers orparts thereof between various processing stations such as e.g. foldingstation, supplement insertion station and bundling station within anewspaper printing press. On such a newspaper conveyor a plurality ofgrips is employed for each newspaper at a time, with which the newspaperis transported along the corresponding conveyor, clamped between onefixed and one movable clamp each.

Various designs are known for the grips which from the point of view ofdesign and actuating mechanism are all relatively complicated. Forinstance, designs are known which actuate the movable clamp by means ofa complicated spiral spring mechanism which in the opening position ofthe movable clamp lock the latter in place. Furthermore, designs are onthe market in which the movable clamp, in opening and closing, executesa swivel movement not only about one, but about two swivel axes locatedroughly at right angles to each other.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to improve a newspaper conveyor of thekind specified as regards its grips so that they may be employedvariably whilst reducing the complication in design.

This object is achieved by the features described in the followingspecification, according to which in employment of the grips, selectionmay be made between the two stated opening positions so that--if, forinstance, only a brief opening of the grip is desired--it may be openedvia a corresponding cam control curve only for a small period of time,to release the newspaper and subsequently move on to its closedposition, but empty. If the movable clamp is required to remain open, itmerely needs to be translated into the second opening position, in whichit is held open self-lockingly by friction contact in a particularlysimple design by means of a locking spring in the form of a leaf spring.

One especially advantageous embodiment of the subject matter describedin the following specification. Due to the two-part configuration of themovable clamp and the relative swivelling action of the thereby createdcontrol part with respect to the clamp part a precise and speedyinitiation of the opening movement of the clamp is possible. This is dueto the control part being deflectable with the aid of a cam controlcurve on the conveyor without it having to initially work against theloading of the leaf spring producing the closing pressure. It is notuntil the maximum swivel angle of the control part is achieved withrespect to the clamp part that the latter is moved together with thecontrol part and translated into one of the opening positions againstthe pressure of the leaf spring. Accordingly, every newspaper grip canbe opened with no problem and as wanted even in the case of conveyorchains running at very high speeds.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features, details and advantages of the invention will beapparent from the remaining subclaims and the following description ofthe example embodiments of the subject matter of the invention withreference to the enclosed drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic partial side view of a newspaper conveyoraccording to the invention having two grips shown in the closingposition and in the self-lockingly held-open position.

FIG. 2 is a schematic partial side view of a newspaper conveyoraccording to FIG. 1 showing the grip in a position of the movable clampheld-open by a cam control curve.

FIG. 3 to FIG. 6 are sections disposed in the swivel plane of themovable clamp through the grips of a second embodiment shown in theclosing position and in various opening positions.

FIG. 7 is a section through a clamp part of the newspaper grip as shownin FIGS. 3 to 6 disposed in the swivel plane.

FIG.8 is a view of the clamp part in the direction of the arrow VIII asshown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a partially sectioned side view of a control part of thenewspaper grip as shown in FIGS. 3 to 6.

FIG. 10 is a section through a supporting part of the newspaper grip asshown in FIGS. 3 to 6 disposed in the swivel plane, and

FIG. 11 is a view of the supporting part in the direction of the arrowXI as shown in FIG. 10.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A newspaper conveyor according to the invention has in the embodiment asshown in FIGS. 1 and 2 an endless conveyor chain 1 running along aconveyor 3 comprising correspondingly section-shaped rails 2. Theendless conveyor chain 1 comprises individually block-shaped chain links4 which are connected articulatedly to each other by coupling members 5.The chain links 4 run on rollers 6 in the conveyor 3.

Disposed at chain link 4 of the endless conveyor chain 1 is a gripidentified as a whole by 7, thus relative to the endless conveyor chaina plurality of such grips is arranged in a row relatively densely in theconveying direction F.

Each grip 7 has a supporting part 8 for securing the grip 7 to the chainlink 4. It is configured as a curved part stamped from sheet metalhaving an essentially U-shaped cross-section, the base 9 of which issecured to the chain link 4. Between the cheeks 10, which aresubstantially rectangular in shape as viewed from the side and are inalignment in the conveying direction F, a movable clamp 11 is swivablymounted about a swivel axis 13 running transversely to the conveyingdirection F, roughly in the middle in front of the bottom edge 12 of thecheeks 10. On one side alongside the swivel axis 13 a recess 14 isprovided in the two cheeks 10, each of which extends from the lower edge12, roughly semi-circularly shaped. At the side of the recess 14 facingaway from the swivel axis 13 the cheeks 10 each continue integrally byshort, curved extension pieces 15, at the free ends of which the fixedclamp 16 is disposed, running transversely to the conveying direction F.

The movable clamp 11 is substantially configured L-shaped, its one legbeing formed by the solid bearing part 17 receiving the swivel axis 13,the other leg by the grip arm 18. The fixed clamp 16 and the grip arm 18of the movable clamp 11 coact, so that in the closing position shown inFIG. 1 on the basis of the right-hand grip 7 a newspaper 19 is heldclamped between the two clamps 11, 16. To generate the clamping forcethe movable clamp 11 is urged by a leaf spring 20 in the closingdirection S. The U-shaped curved leaf spring 20 is disposed in thesupporting part 8 between the base 9 thereof and the bearing part 17 ofthe movable clamp 11. By its upper and lower leg 21, 22 the spring issupported by the base 9 of the supporting part 8 and the bearing portion17 of the movable clamp 11 respectively, the bearing part 17 of themovable clamp 11 being provided on its upper side with a contact surface23 curved convexly about a bending axis in parallel with the swivel axis13 for the lower, second leg 22 of the leaf spring 20. Via this contactsurface 23 a torque is generated in the closing direction S at themovable clamp 11 by the second, lower leg 22 of the leaf spring 20, thusresulting in the aforementioned clamping force.

Furthermore, the lower leg 22 of the leaf spring 20 is provided at itsend with a stopper land 24 facing the first leg 21, the function ofwhich is later described in more detail. Projecting transversely to theconveying direction F, spaced away from its swivel axis 13, the movableclamp 11 itself features a pin 25 which protrudes through a curved slot26 in the cheek 10 of the supporting part 1. At the free end of the pin25 a roller 27 is secured. Pin 25 and roller 27 form a cam follower forthe cam control curves to be described in more detail on the conveyor,by means of which the closing and opening movement of the movable clamp11 is controllable. This functions as follows:

Starting from the closing position, shown on the right in FIG. 1, ofgrip 7 the movable clamp 11 of the latter may be disposed by means ofthe ramp-like cam control curve 28 illustrated schematically in FIG. 2into the first opening position shown in this Figure, in which themovable clamp 11 is maintained open against the closing force of theleaf spring 20 by means a continuous support due to the horizontal part29 (depicted broken away in FIG. 2 for the sake of added clarity) of thecam control curve 28. As soon as the support offered by the cam controlcurve 28 is discontinued, the movable clamp 11 automatically closesunder the influence of the leaf spring 20.

As an alternative, the movable clamp 11 may be disposed into a secondopening position as shown on the left in FIG. 1. In this second openingposition the movable clamp 11 is self-lockingly held open by thefriction contact of its contact surface 23 with the second leg 22 of theleaf spring 20. To translate the movable clamp 11 into this secondopening position a cam control curve 30, shown dashed in FIG. 1, havinga higher ramp 31 than that of cam control surve 28 is necessary.Accordingly, in the first opening position shown in FIG. 2 the openingangle W1 is also smaller than the opening angle W2 in the second openingposition shown on the left in FIG. 1.

In translating the movable clamp 11 from the first closing position (onthe right in FIG. 1) into the second opening position (on the left inFIG. 1) the second leg 22 of the leaf spring 20 comes up against thefirst leg 21 by its stopper land 24. This occurs more or less at anopening angle W1 as is shown in FIG. 2. In further swivelling of themovable clamp 16 the second leg 22 of the leaf spring 20 is inherentlyelastically deformable, resulting in the friction contact between thecontact surface 23 and this leg 22 being increased to such a degree thatdue to the friction contact a self-locking action of the movable clamp11 in the second opening position shown on the left in FIG. 1 occurs.Accordingly, no further support by the cam control curve 30 is needed tomaintain this opening position.

If, starting from this opening position, the movable clamp 11 isrequired to be translated back into its closing position, a separate camcontrol curve 32 having a ramp oriented in the opposite direction isnecessary, by means of which the friction contact between the contactsurface of the movable clamp 11 and the leg 22 of the leaf spring 20 isre-discontinued and subsequently the clamp 11 is automatically returnedinto the closing position, as shown on the right in FIG. 1, by theaction of the leaf spring 20.

It is to be noted that the curvature of the contact surface 23 relativeto the swivel axis 13 is configured in such a way that as the angle ofthe movable clamp 11 increases, the second leg 22 of the leaf spring 20is flexed increasingly in the direction of the first leg 21, resultingin the force generated by the leaf spring being increased at the movableclamp. At the same time, in translation of the clamp 11 particularlyinto the second opening position, the substantially line-shaped contactarea of the contact surface 23 of the movable clamp 11 on the second leg21 of the leaf spring 20 wanders in the direction of the base 34 of theleaf spring 20, thus shortening the leverage with which the leaf spring20 acts on the clamp 11. Since, in addition to this, the side deflectionof the line of action of the force translated from the leaf spring 20 tothe clamp 11 is at a minimum with respect to the swivel axis 13 in thisposition, the friction contact between clamp 11 and leaf spring 20 issufficient to maintain the clamp 11 in the opening position as shown onthe left in FIG. 1.

The second embodiment of a newspaper conveyor according to the inventionas shown in FIGS. 3 to 11 is provided in turn with individual newspapergrips 7' which form a row on an endless conveyor chain, the same asshown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and are driven in the conveying direction F. Thesupporting part 8' and the leaf spring 20' are substantially the same asthe corresponding components of the example embodiment as shown in FIGS.1 and 2 and thus do not need to be again explained. Also, furthercomponents of the second embodiment having the same functions as thecorresponding components of the first embodiment are identified by thesame reference numerals with the addition of an apostrophe.

However, unlike the configuration of the example embodiment shown inFIGS. 1 and 2 the movable clamp 11' is formed two-part and comprises theactual clamp part 35 and a control part 36. The clamp part 35corresponds by its outer shape to that of clamp 11 of the exampleembodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and thus has a bearing part 17' whichis mounted to swivel about a swivel axis 13' located in its axis hole39a between the two cheeks 10' of the supporting part 8'. Thecontinuation of bearing part 17' is the grip arm 18' at the free end ofwhich side elongations 37 are provided. In addition, the bearing part17' of the clamp part 35 is provided with a recess 38 oriented in itsswivelling plane SE (FIG. 8), centrally located in the direction of theleaf spring 20 and open at the side, in which the control part 36configured as a block is arranged and which is also mounted to swivelabout the swivel axis 13' on the clamp part 35 by means of an axis hole39 oriented transversely to the conveying direction F.

In this arrangement the axis holes 39, 39a are located in the cornerregion of the bearing part 17' and the control part 36 respectivelyfacing the grip arm 18', in the diametrally opposed edge area thecontrol part 36 being provided with a pin 25' protruding sidewaystransversely to the conveying direction F which may be arrangedalternatively to face the left or right as regards the conveyingdirection F. This pin 25' protrudes through a curved slot 40, one ofwhich is arranged in each of the two side cheek 41, 42 of the clamp part35 defining the recess 38 in a position in line with each other. Theapex of curvature of the two slots 40 is located in the swivel axis 13'.The end 43 of the slots 40 facing clockwise with respect to FIGS. 3 to 6defines the swivel angle between the control part 36 and the clamp part35. In the opposite direction the swivel angle is defined by theunderside 45 of the control part 36 coming into contact with the bottom44 of the recess 38. In this arrangement too, the pin 25' protrudesthrough the slot 26' in the side cheeks 10' of the supporting part 8',said slot coinciding with the slot 40. By their apex of curvature theslots 26' are also located on the swivel axis 13' and cover a 90° angleof extension.

Alternatively from the left or right, the pin 25' acting as a followerwith regard to the cam control curve employed may be screwed into acorresponding threaded hole oriented transversely to the conveyingdirection F running through the control part 36 and thus the position ofthe pin 25' may be adapted to customer requirements in each case. Forinstance, the pins of the newspaper grips 7, 7' may be fitted in anendless conveyor chain 1 so that they only protrude on the left,resulting in all newspaper grips being opened by a cam control curvearranged on the left of the conveyor 3. If the pins 25' are fittedprotruding alternately left and right in a sequence of newspaper grips7, 7', only every second newspaper grip 7, 7' is opened by a cam controlcurve arranged on the left of the conveyor 3. The newspaper grips 7, 7'provided with a pin 25' protruding to the right may then be openedsubsequently at another position on the conveyor 3.

Just as well, only every third newspaper grip may be opened by acorresponding arrangement of pins 25' disposed to the left and right ata position on the conveyor, a subsequent change to the opening action inthe region of a cam control curve also being possible by a reassembly ofthe pins 25'.

The control part 36 is spring-loaded in the closing direction S relativeto the clamp part 35, a spiral compression spring 46 being inserted forthis purpose into two blind holes 47, 48 in the control part 36 and theclamp part 35 respectively, located on the underside 45 of the controlpart 36 and in the bottom 44 of the recess 38 of the clamp part 35respectively, having openings merging into each other. In thisarrangement the blind hole 47 in the control part 36 is disposed in theregion between the swivel axis 13' and the side surface 49 of thecontrol part 36 facing the fixed clamp 16'.

The functioning of the newspaper grip 7' illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 11 isrepresented as follows:

In FIG. 3 the clamp part 35 is shown in its closed position which ismaintained by its contact surface 23' being subjected to the force ofthe leaf spring 20', the control part 36 being in contact by itsunderside 45 with the bottom 44 of the recess 38 due to the influence ofthe spiral compression spring 46.

When the newspaper grip negotiates a cam control curve (not shown inFIGS. 3 to 6) the latter detects the pin 25' serving as the cam followerand deflects the control part 36 smoothly--since it is merely requiredto work against the relatively weak spiral compression spring 46--untilthe pin 25' comes up against the end 43 of the slot 40 in the clamp part35. With further lifting of the pin 25' as dictated by the cam controlcurve the clamp part 35 is opened contrary to the closing direction andagainst the force exerted by the leaf spring 20'. Due to a relativelyslight swivel action of the control part 36 into the first openingposition analogous to the example embodiment as depicted in FIGS. 1 and2 the clamp part is maintained in the opening positionnon-self-lockingly by its contact surface 23'. Once the cam controlcurve 28 loses contact, the clamp part is reclosed by the influence ofthe leaf spring 20'.

When the control part 36 is deflected more strongly as a result of thecam control curve being configured accordingly, the clamp part 35 isswivelled to such an extent that it attains the second opening positionanalogous to the example embodiment depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2 and ismaintained self-lockingly by friction contact with the leaf spring 20'(FIG. 4). As soon as the cam control curve 30 loses contact the clamppart 35 is retained in the second opening position, the control part 36being able to swivel back into its starting position with contactbetween its underside 45 and the bottom 44 due to the influence of thespiral compression spring 46. To translate the clamp part 35 into itsclosing position a cam control curve acting correspondingly inverselyneeds to be provided.

If as a result of the configuration of the cam control curve the controlpart 36 and thus the clamp part 35 are swivelled past the second openingposition further into a third opening position (FIG. 6), the contactsurface 50 provided on the upper side of the control part 36 deforms theleaf spring 20' to such an extent that the contact surface 23' of theclamp part 35 loses contact. In this third opening position the controlpart 36 is maintained open self-lockingly by the friction contact withthe leaf spring 20'. The clamp part 35 is swivable relative to thecontrol part 36 by the swivel angle defined between these two componentsin the closing direction S against the force exerted by the spiralcompression spring 46. This embodiment is of advantage when thenewspaper grip flies over a shingled layer of newspapers located beneathin the conveying direction F and, for example in the case of very thicknewspapers, the grip arm 18' comes into contact with the newspapers. Dueto it being capable of swivel action in the third opening position it isable to respond pliantly so as not to mess up the shingled layer.

The clamp part 35 can be made to leave the third opening position asshown in FIG. 6 by a corresponding cam control curve which senses thecontrol part 36 via the pin 25' and urges the latter together with theclamp part 35 under the influence of the leaf spring 20' into theclosing position (FIG. 3).

In conclusion, it is to be noted that by providing an alternatingorientation of pins 25' in a sequence of newspaper grips 7' to the leftor right with respect to the conveying direction F and by locating camcontrol curves correspondingly on one side only every second newspapergrip may be selectively opened.

I claim:
 1. A newspaper conveyor having an endless conveyor chain (1)running along a conveyor (3) and a plurality of newspaper grips (7, 7')arranged in sequence thereon, each of which has a supporting part (8,8') for securing said grip (7, 7') to said endless conveyor chain (1), afixed clamp (16, 16') and a movable clamp (11, 11') coacting therewithby the action of a spring (leaf spring 20, 20'), between said clamps(11, 11', 16, 16') when said movable clamps (11, 11') are closed anewspaper is clampable, the closing and opening movement of said movableclamp (11, 11') being controllable via cam control curves (28, 30, 32)on said conveyor (3) characterized in that said movable clamp (11) isadjustable in two opening positions, namely a first opening position inwhich said movable clamp (11, 11') is maintained open by a cam controlcurve (28) against the closing force of said spring in the form of aleaf spring (20, 20') and a second opening position in which saidmovable clamp (11, 11') is maintained open self-lockingly by frictioncontact with said leaf spring (20, 20').
 2. The newspaper conveyor asset forth in claim 1 characterized in that said supporting part (8, 8')is configured essentially U-shaped in cross-section, the base (9, 9') ofwhich is secured to said endless conveyor chain (1) and between thecheeks (10, 10') of which said movable clamp (11, 11') is swivablymounted about a swivel axis (13, 13') running transversely to theconveying direction (F).
 3. The newspaper conveyor as set forth in claim2 characterized in that said leaf spring (20, 20') disposed in saidsupporting part (8, 8') between the base (9, 9') thereof and a bearingpart (17, 17') of said movable clamp (11, 11') is curved U-shaped and issupported by a first leg (21, 21') on the base (9, 9') of saidsupporting part (8, 8') and by a second leg (22, 22') at least on saidbearing part (17, 17') of said movable clamp (11, 11').
 4. The newspaperconveyor as set forth in claim 3 characterized in that said bearing part(17, 17') of said movable clamp (11, 11') is provided with a contactsurface (23, 23') curved convexly about a bending axis in parallel withsaid swivel axis (13, 13') for said second leg (22, 22') of said leafspring (20, 20').
 5. The newspaper conveyor as set forth in claim 4characterized in that the curvature of said contact surface (23, 23') isconfigured relative to said swivel axis (13, 13') such that withincreasing angle of opening of said movable clamp (16, 16') said secondleg (22, 22') of said leaf spring (20, 20') is flexed increasingly inthe direction of said first leg (21, 21').
 6. The newspaper conveyor asset forth in claim 3 characterized in that said second leg (22, 22') ofsaid leaf spring (20, 20') has at its end a stopper land (24, 24')facing towards said first leg (21, 21').
 7. The newspaper conveyor asset forth claim 1 characterized in that the angle of opening (W1) ofsaid movable clamp (11, 11') in the first opening position is smallerthan its angle of opening (W2) in the second opening position.
 8. Thenewspaper conveyor as set forth in claim 6 or 7 characterized in thatsaid second leg (22, 22')of said leaf spring (20, 20') is inherentlyelastically deformable in translating said movable clamp (11,11')fromsaid first into said second opening position with said stopper land (24,24') coming up against said first leg (21, 21') to increase the frictionbetween contact surface (23, 23') and said second leg (22, 22').
 9. Thenewspaper conveyor as set forth in claim 8 characterized in that thecontact area of said contact surface (23, 23') of said movable clamp(11, 11') on said second leg (22, 22') of said leaf spring (20, 20')wanders in the direction of said base (34, 34') of said leaf spring (20,20') in translating said clamp (11, 11') into said second openingposition.
 10. The newspaper conveyor as set forth in claim 2characterized in that for said cam control curve (28, 30, 32) saidmovable clamp (11, 11') is provided transversely to the conveyingdirection (F) with a cam follower (pin 25, 25', roller 27) whichprotrudes through a curved slot (26, 26') in at least one of the cheeks(10, 10') of said supporting part (8, 8').
 11. The newspaper conveyor asset forth in claim 1 characterized in that said movable clamp (11') isformed two-part and features a clamp part (35) and a control part (36)which on said clamp part (35) is swivably mounted relative to the latterabout a defined swivel angle in the opening or closing direction of saidclamp part (35), which is spring-loaded (spiral compression spring 46)in the closing direction (S) of said clamp part (35) and which isengaged by a cam control curve for translating said clamp part (35) intothe opening positions.
 12. The newspaper conveyor as set forth in claim11 characterized in that said control part (36) and said clamp part (35)are swivably mounted about a common swivel axis (13') in said supportingpart (8').
 13. The newspaper conveyor as set forth in claim 11 or 12characterized in that said movable clamp (11') is translatable via a camcontrol curve into a third opening position in which said control part(36) is maintained open self-lockingly by friction contact with saidleaf spring (20') and in which said clamp part (35) is swivable relativeto said control part (36) about the defined relative swivel angle in theclosing direction (S).
 14. The newspaper conveyor as set forth in claim11 characterized in that said bearing part (17') of said clamp part(35') is provided with a recess (38) oriented centrally in itsswivelling plane (SE), open at least in the direction of said leafspring (20'), in which said control part (36) is arranged in the form ofa block.
 15. The newspaper conveyor as set forth in claim 14characterized in that said control part (36) is provided with a camfollower (pin 25') projecting in the conveying direction (F) whichprotrudes through one of the side cheeks (41, 42) of said clamp part(35) defining said recess (38) and through the cheeks (10') of saidsupporting part (8') via a separate slot (slot 40, 26') each.
 16. Thenewspaper conveyor as set forth in claim 14 or 15 characterized in thatfor spring-loading said control part (36) relative to said clamp part(35) a spiral compression spring (46) is inserted in two blind holes(47, 48) which are disposed on the underside (45) of said control part(36) and in the bottom (44) of said recess (38) of said clamp part (35)with openings merging into each other.
 17. The newspaper conveyor as setforth in claim 10 or 15 characterized in that said cam follower (pin 25,25', roller 27) is releasably secured to said movable clamp (11, 11') orto said control part (36) and is mountable to protrude either to theleft or right transversely to the conveying direction (F).